Can a UK solicitor practice abroad?
Asked by: Sadie Haag | Last update: February 3, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (71 votes)
Yes, a UK solicitor can practice abroad, but typically needs to meet local bar/society requirements, which often involves requalification exams (like the US Bar Exam for New York) or joining the local body, though working in English law firms overseas or common law jurisdictions (Cayman Islands, Bermuda) offers easier pathways by continuing to practice English law. UK solicitors must still follow SRA rules when practicing internationally, especially if their work relates to England & Wales, requiring adherence to competence and conduct standards.
Can UK solicitors work abroad?
A UK law degree opens doors to a variety of international legal careers. Whether you're drawn to bustling cities or seeking a change of pace, the skills and knowledge you'll gain at BCU are your passport to a rewarding legal career abroad.
Can UK solicitors work in the USA?
Many states with cities with important international business and legal hubs (such as California and New York), have developed state-specific requirements for foreign-trained lawyers to be admitted to the bar. The simple answer to this question is yes, a UK lawyer can work in California.
Is a UK LLB equivalent to a US JD?
This programme leads to a Bachelor of Laws honours degree from UCL and a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia University in New York. The Juris Doctor (or J.D.) is the American equivalent of the LLB.
Can an UK lawyer take the New York bar?
New York has adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). UK lawyers need a first degree in law equivalent in duration to a US law degree to sit the bar exam. The degree must also be substantially equivalent to a US law degree and based on the principles of English common law.
How to become a lawyer in the UK (4 different ways)
Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?
Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
Is the US bar harder than the UK?
So, basically anyone around the world can just pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and become a solicitor. That's a much easier barrier to entry. Right? As such, the US bar admission appears to be much harder to get, but is hence way more valuable.
Does the US recognize UK law degrees?
Yes. However, most jurisdictions require holders of foreign law degrees to have an additional legal degree, such as a J.D. or LL.
How did Kim Kardashian become a lawyer?
But Kim Kardashian did not graduate from law school. Instead, she endeavored to complete the study requirements of California's Law Office Study Program (LOSP) to be eligible to take the California Bar. This is a process we at Esq. Apprentice call legal apprenticeship.
Do US law firms pay more than UK law firms?
UK Partner Pay: Structurally Different Models. At the partner level, US law firms lead in both average pay and profit distribution, as highlighted by the 2024 Partner Compensation Survey, which revealed an average annual compensation for AmLaw 200 partners of $1.4 million.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
What is the American equivalent of a British solicitor?
The American equivalent of a British solicitor is generally an attorney-at-law, who provides legal advice and represents clients in court. In the US, the term 'counsel' specifically refers to a lawyer who represents clients in court, similar to the role of a barrister in the UK.
Which US states accept foreign law degrees?
Most states require a J.D. degree from a US law school in order to sit for the bar exam. There are some states which do allow foreign law graduates to sit for the bar exam, including New York, California, New Hampshire, Alabama, and Virginia.
Can I lose my UK residency if I live abroad?
Your UK citizenship will not be affected if you move or retire abroad. If you want to live in an EU country, check the country's living in guide for information about your rights. You may need a visa.
Do lawyers get paid well in the UK?
According to job sites such as Indeed and Reed, the average salary for a solicitor in the UK is between £40,000 and £55,000 a year, although large, London-based and Magic circle firms often pay far in excess of this.
What type of lawyer makes the most money?
The highest-paid lawyers are often in specialized fields like Patent Law, requiring science/engineering backgrounds, and Corporate Law, especially those advising major firms, plus Securities & Antitrust Lawyers, Medical Malpractice, and Intellectual Property (IP) Law, where high stakes and complex regulations drive huge incomes, particularly in BigLaw or in-house roles with bonuses.
How many times did Kim Kardashian fail the bar exam?
Kim Kardashian failed the California "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Exam) three times before passing it in December 2021, and has failed the main California Bar Exam once as of November 2025, vowing to retake it again in 2026. Her failures, particularly with the baby bar, were public, but she persevered to pass that first hurdle on her fourth attempt.
Does passing the baby bar make you a lawyer?
No, passing the California "Baby Bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination or FYLSE) does not make you a lawyer; it's a hurdle for non-traditional law students to continue their studies, allowing them to sit for the actual California Bar Exam, which, along with character and fitness, is required to become a licensed attorney. You must pass the full California Bar Exam, which tests more subjects, and meet other requirements before you can practice law and call yourself a lawyer.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?
That said, the question about what the “Kim Kardashian LSAT score” was, or if she even took the LSAT ends in a resounding no. This unconventional choice has sparked conversations about making legal education more accessible and exploring diverse paths in the legal profession.
Can a UK solicitor practice in the USA?
Solicitors who qualified in England and Wales without a law degree are generally not eligible to sit the bar exam in most states. This means they can't obtain a second qualification as a US attorney.
How hard is it to become a lawyer in the UK?
You must study and train for at least six years full time, and competition for training opportunities is high. Try to find out as much as you can about what a career in the law is like by: talking to solicitors, for example at careers fairs. applying for work experience.
Is LSAT accepted in the UK?
Law as a course is treated differently in the United States and the United Kingdom. In order to study law in the United Kingdom, you must take the LNAT exam instead of the LSAT. The top colleges accepting LNAT scores are: University of Cambridge.
Which is the 3 toughest exam in the world?
The top 3 toughest exams globally consistently include China's Gaokao (college entrance), India's IIT-JEE Advanced (engineering), and India's UPSC Civil Services Exam (government jobs), due to their extreme competition, vast syllabi, and life-altering consequences, though other candidates like the All Souls Prize or Master Sommelier Diploma are also noted for extreme difficulty. These exams demand immense knowledge, analytical skills, and endurance, with failure often meaning significant setbacks, making them notoriously difficult.
Is a 70% an A in the UK?
UK degree classifications are as follows: First-Class Honours (First or 1st) (70% and above) Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1, 2. i) (60-70%)
Is law school harder than med school?
Medical school is generally considered harder due to its intense, fact-heavy curriculum requiring massive memorization and dealing with life-or-death stakes, while law school focuses more on reading, critical thinking, and analysis, though both are rigorous and demand significant commitment. Med school involves vast scientific knowledge and clinical rotations, whereas law school builds analytical "thinking like a lawyer" through heavy reading, writing, and case application, culminating in high-stakes final exams.